With all the talk about Duke being better or more talented , I think it's imperative that next year's team lock down on the defensive end. I agree that Duke looks really good on paper, but I still feel UK will have higher level athleticism and be quicker . I just think we have the potential to wreak havoc defensively.
Next season
- Thread starter Pulaski Cat Fan_rivals377587
- Start date
There will be several good teams next year....winning a championship will be very difficult...Michigan State, Kansas, Arizona, Duke .....to mention a few besides UK....
Our timing is off.
The years that we're great, so are 5 other teams.
The years we're mediocre, the entire field sucks.
If Ulis comes back, we're going undefeated. If Ulis leaves, we're going to take some lumps, but will still be in the mix.
The years that we're great, so are 5 other teams.
The years we're mediocre, the entire field sucks.
If Ulis comes back, we're going undefeated. If Ulis leaves, we're going to take some lumps, but will still be in the mix.
I agree, it will come down to these last few recruits. Bolden to Duke and they are very loaded, and comes here we are very loaded (still wished we had more shooters aka a Booker/Murray).
KU could get a majority of those last players and have a great team, if they miss on 2 of them they won't be all that.
Mich St land Jackson they will be loaded because that kid will probably be the number 1 pick from what I saw.
Zona could pick up a couple of the players left and if they do will be legit, if they strike out on them and the kids go to MSU and/or KU they will suck.
UCLA did beat us this year and picked up a great player, so they may be legit.
Tell me who's team looks better.
Fox
Monk
Gabriel
Bam
Bolden
Briscoe
Lee
Willis
Killeya Jones
Hawkins
Mathews
Humphries
Wynyard
Jackson
Allen
Tatum
Jefferson
Giles
Kennard
Jones
Delaurier
Jeter
Thornton ??????
Obi
And if Ulis comes back and I think he probably will. Then this isn't even a discussion. They wouldn't really be better than us at any position, and the 1 or 2 positions that they are better its still pretty close. Like Tatum vs Gabriel. Tatum has the advantage, but not by much. And I'd put Bolden = Giles since Giles had 2 torn ACL's. Bam's better than Jefferson, Monk and Allen is pretty much equal, but Monk's still the better talent. Fox and Jackson? Tough one. But I'd give it to Fox. Then the bench is pretty equal except for the bigs. Lee and SKJ is better than Jeter and Delaurier by a mile.
Fox
Monk
Gabriel
Bam
Bolden
Briscoe
Lee
Willis
Killeya Jones
Hawkins
Mathews
Humphries
Wynyard
Jackson
Allen
Tatum
Jefferson
Giles
Kennard
Jones
Delaurier
Jeter
Thornton ??????
Obi
And if Ulis comes back and I think he probably will. Then this isn't even a discussion. They wouldn't really be better than us at any position, and the 1 or 2 positions that they are better its still pretty close. Like Tatum vs Gabriel. Tatum has the advantage, but not by much. And I'd put Bolden = Giles since Giles had 2 torn ACL's. Bam's better than Jefferson, Monk and Allen is pretty much equal, but Monk's still the better talent. Fox and Jackson? Tough one. But I'd give it to Fox. Then the bench is pretty equal except for the bigs. Lee and SKJ is better than Jeter and Delaurier by a mile.
Made a few changes for you and then you tell me who looks better.
Fox
Monk
Gabriel
Bam
Lee
Briscoe
Lee
Willis
Killeya Jones
Hawkins
Mathews
Humphries
Wynyard
Jackson
Allen
Tatum
Jefferson
Giles
With Bolden first off the bench
Kennard
Jones
Delaurier
Jeter
Thornton ??????
Obi
Has Grayson Allen made his decision on stay/go yet? I missed it if he did... DraftExpress shows first pick of 2nd round but NBADraft.net doesn't have him listed.
Bolden is not equal to Giles. Yeah, Giles has 2 surgically repaired knees but those knees will be stronger because of it. Plus, Bolden is the 20th ranked recruit, that is nowhere near Giles' skill and talent level.
Your post is way too homerish, Duke will be awesome next year but so will we. Hopefully we clash in the title game and Cal out-coaches K.
I know knee surgery has come light years ahead in the last 20 years, but to say that two knee surgeries before age 18 will make your knees stronger is a gigantic and crazy optimistic assumption. At best, Giles will have a few question marks attached to him because of the knees, and that's fair for a guy who is 6'10" with two torn ACLs.
This. There really seems to be no evidence to support that a repaired ACL is stronger/better and it can take a year to get back into playing shape. Look at Poy - he wasn't really himself until about halfway through the season. Time will tell on the Giles kid but it is certainly a red flag that he's had 2 different ACL surgeries while still in H.S.
I've read enough articles that state what I said but either way, it still doesn't put Bolden at Giles' level.
Bro this is a ridiculous post and you know it. As much as I hate him, Allen was an All-American this past year and a junior year version of him would be way better than Freshman Malik Monk unless he turns out to be 2nd coming of Michael Jordan.
Gabriel might be better defensively than Tatum (maybe) but Tatum is the best offensive player in this entire HS class. The Dookies have a clear advantage here too because this guy will be at least as good as Jabari Parker was a scorer.
Giles vs. Bolden/Lee isn't even a comparison.
I'd prefer the combination of Jones/Kennard to the combination of Mulder/Matthews/Willis as well.
Here's an objective breakdown:
Ulis>>>Jackson (Advantage UK)
Allen>>>Monk (Advantage Duke)
Tatum>>>Gabriel (Advantage Duke)
Bam>Jefferson (Slight Advantage UK but Jefferson's a redshirt senior so he's more experienced...)
Giles>>>Bolden (Advantage Duke)
If Allen doesn't return to Dook and we get Bolden instead, then I'd say we're on par at least then. We really need to pray that Disgrayson Allen doesn't come back for his junior year since I believe he is the only All-American from this past year who would be playing next year so he could be a NPOY candidate ugh.
I can't wait for the day when athletes are getting elective ACL surgery to make their knees stronger.
We will be very good. Duke will be very good. MSU will be very good. Arizona will be very good. Kansas might be really good. Oregon will be good enough. Point is everybody slurping over Duke needs to look at the rest of the field. Duke isn't the only team contending with us next year. While I still think we'll end up being the best team next year, I'm not denying that 5 or 6 teams could be neck and neck next year.
That's not by accident. If it's a good recruiting year, everyone profits. The reason the entire field sucked this year, was because the 2015 recruiting class wasn't that talented. Same thing for the 2013 season... the 2012 recruiting class was dismal.
Also, can we stop with the undefeated talk? No one is ever going undefeated again. If WE couldn't do it with that team last year, no one is.
This incoming freshmen class for college basketball is hell on wheels.
Therefore, this upcoming basketball season is going to be hell on wheels as well. There will be some great games to watch, interesting debates, seeding will be critical, and the tourney will be no mercy.
Can't wait for tip off!
Plus, we will be right in the middle of it all..... Or should I say, right at the TOP of it all!
Therefore, this upcoming basketball season is going to be hell on wheels as well. There will be some great games to watch, interesting debates, seeding will be critical, and the tourney will be no mercy.
Can't wait for tip off!
Plus, we will be right in the middle of it all..... Or should I say, right at the TOP of it all!
Per usual, just like 2015. When UK is REALLY good, other teams are REALLY good. There's no one in this year's tourney that would've stayed within double digits of 2015 UK. That's just how the chips fall sometimes though.
I disagree with what appears to me to be your premise - namely, that the best teams in college basketball next season will be those with this years' highest rated high school seniors. Now, if that's not what you're saying; if what you actually meant (and I just misunderstood it) is that with what those teams you named have coming back combined with an influx of underdeveloped talent by way of freshmen recruits, those teams probably project to be the best, then ok.
Basically, I think it is very, very unlikely that any college basketball team that doesn't get significant contributions from upperclassmen will win a title - or even make it to the Final Four.
You're gonna tell me a classic Duke white boy is more talented than Malik Monk? Don't get me wrong Allen is very good, but Monk is the better talent. And yeah I know Tatum's better than Gabriel. that's what I said. As for Giles. Who knows. I doubt he's the same player he was before this last ACL tear. If he is then he's probably the best player in the country next year.
Who said anything about talent? Monk will most likely be the better NBA player down the line but you'll have a tough time convincing anyone who follows college hoops closely that a Freshman Monk will be anywhere near as good of a shooter or defender as a junior Grayson Allen.
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/grayson-allen-1.html
Allen shot 42% from 3 last year for instance. I'm just hoping Monk can shoot ~35% from deep next year.
How many points did Allen score against us this pay year? 8. When you put athleticism on him with length backing You up he is not hard to shut down. You're talk about UK needing to pray to beat Duke shows who you're really a fan of. Do trolls even try to hide it anymore? You would get more respect just admitting you're a duke fan instead of the laughable bs you wrote.
Them and us will be at the top for sure. It depends on who returns for duke. I really want Grayson Allen to go pro. But it would be no suprise to see him return of course. If he does return they will be scary good on offense. 4 out of the 5 starters would be a legit threat to score from the outside.
Jackson
Allen
Tatum
Giles
Jefferson/Bolden
They could go small and insert Kennard or Jones in the lineup as well. I can not stand coach k but I always like how he recruits shooters. That is the reason people are hyping up duke for next season.
Man I cant believe y'all think Giles will be the same player after this last ACL. He may be when he gets to the NBA, but I don't see him being a superstar next year at Duke after TWO ACL TEARS. One ACL tear. Yeah. But one in each knee?
Coach K gets players to return. Unless they are a top 10 pick and that is how you should do it. If you are going to be good then go back get another year of great coaching under your belt win a title then go pro becoming most likely a higher pick. Cal made the one n done but K does it better.
But next year Fox will indeed led to #9. He has to.
But next year Fox will indeed led to #9. He has to.
IU too depending on who stays and goes.
Oh god, I think I just threw up a lil bit.
Yeah! Yeah, I did. That makes me sick!
If Allen comes back, we know it's all about Coach K. Players 2nd program.
Dude blew up this year, has already won a title. Averaged over 20 a game, over 40 percent from 3. Why the hell would he return? Because he graduates in 1 year? LOL. Kid could go make millions right now. He could finish school after his basketball career ended.
That's a good point but stranger things have happened. I'm with you though, I believe he will be really good just based on skill and talent but I think his body will limit him some for sure.
I can't see Giles being as good as he was before two ACL's.
As for comparisons to Duke, let's start with this past season:
UK and Duke were both 4 seeds. UK won the game on a neutral court.
Next, let's talk about what each team loses:
UK loses Poythress to graduation. Duke loses Plumlee to graduation.
UK loses Murray to the lottery. Duke loses Ingram to the lottery.
Also, it is assumed Labissiere leaves.
Then, let's talk about who each has coming back:
The previous conversation assumes Ulis returns for UK and Allen returns for Duke. If so, both teams retain their All-American.
Everyone else is expected back, as of now.
Finally, let's talk about what each team will have coming in:
UK adds Fox and Monk- both top 5 players.
Duke adds Tatum and Giles- both top 5 players. Giles is coming off injury, however.
UK adds Adebayo- a top 10 player.
Duke adds Jackson- a top 15 player.
UK adds Gabriel and Killeya-Jones- both top 25 players.
This scenario assumes UK adds Bolden- another top 25 recruit.
In this scenario, it looks to me like UK will have three more impact players coming in than Duke.
Even with losing slightly more (Labissiere) than Duke, we gain slightly more in that scenario. On paper, we would have the better team, IMHO.
Personally, bringing back Ulis would be enough for me to put us above Duke, even if they get Bolden. We still have one more impact recruit coming in than Duke and the return of Ulis outweighs the return of Allen. Plus, Cal probably signs another top prospect to replace Bolden.
With Ulis, we are the favorite, IMHO. He will be the clear front runner for NPOY.
But, I doubt Ulis comes back, so the argument is likely irrelevant.
As for comparisons to Duke, let's start with this past season:
UK and Duke were both 4 seeds. UK won the game on a neutral court.
Next, let's talk about what each team loses:
UK loses Poythress to graduation. Duke loses Plumlee to graduation.
UK loses Murray to the lottery. Duke loses Ingram to the lottery.
Also, it is assumed Labissiere leaves.
Then, let's talk about who each has coming back:
The previous conversation assumes Ulis returns for UK and Allen returns for Duke. If so, both teams retain their All-American.
Everyone else is expected back, as of now.
Finally, let's talk about what each team will have coming in:
UK adds Fox and Monk- both top 5 players.
Duke adds Tatum and Giles- both top 5 players. Giles is coming off injury, however.
UK adds Adebayo- a top 10 player.
Duke adds Jackson- a top 15 player.
UK adds Gabriel and Killeya-Jones- both top 25 players.
This scenario assumes UK adds Bolden- another top 25 recruit.
In this scenario, it looks to me like UK will have three more impact players coming in than Duke.
Even with losing slightly more (Labissiere) than Duke, we gain slightly more in that scenario. On paper, we would have the better team, IMHO.
Personally, bringing back Ulis would be enough for me to put us above Duke, even if they get Bolden. We still have one more impact recruit coming in than Duke and the return of Ulis outweighs the return of Allen. Plus, Cal probably signs another top prospect to replace Bolden.
With Ulis, we are the favorite, IMHO. He will be the clear front runner for NPOY.
But, I doubt Ulis comes back, so the argument is likely irrelevant.
I think it might be that @jab5612 person. If they come back calling you a message board warrior and threatening to put you on ignore, then it's definitely that person.